ABSTRACT Background and Aims There are different treatment options for acne including topicals, systemic, hormonal, intralesional, and laser treatments. Fractional Nd: YAG 1064 nm laser has been used to treat acne scars and there are also reports on its use in active acne. In this pilot, split‐face, randomized trial conducted as an adjunct to standard care, the aim was to compare effects of long‐pulse (LP) with Quality‐switched (QS) Nd:YAG laser on active acne. Methods This is a double‐blind, randomized, controlled, split‐face study comparing LP versus QS Nd: YAG laser for treating active acne in 20 participants (age range, 18–50 years). Patients had 3 sessions of treatment with 3‐week intervals, with a final follow‐up 4 weeks later. Assessments were performed using the modified Leeds revised acne grading system, physician global assessment and patient global satisfaction. All participants received daily oral azithromycin as standardized background therapy; lasers were evaluated as adjunctive treatments. Results Both laser modes decreased means of modified Leeds scores at final follow‐up. The percentage change was significantly higher in QS compared to LP group (50% vs. 32%, paired comparison p = 0.04). Both physicians and patients were significantly satisfied with the results with both treatments ( p = 0.001). Conclusion As adjuncts to daily azithromycin, both LP and QS 1064 nm Nd:YAG lasers showed reductions in acne severity; QS demonstrated a modest within‐subject advantage. Given the small sample and adjunctive systemic therapy, findings are preliminary and hypothesis‐generating.
Maghsoodloo et al. (Wed,) studied this question.